LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

I would like to share one last look at some key 2015 legislative accomplishments.

Michigan is the biggest success story in the nation!

Fiscal restraint and pro-growth reforms, such as producing a balanced budget ahead of schedule and reducing unfunded liabilities by $16 billion, continued to energize Michigan’s economy.

In fact, more than 400,000 new private sector jobs have been added to our economy in under five years, while unemployment dropped to 5 percent in September, the first time Michigan has been below the national average since August 2000.

Education continues to be our top priority

For the fifth straight year, we increased K-12 funding— that’s an increase of more than $1 billion in state funding since 2011. More than 45 cents of every state tax dollar collected goes to K-12 education, community colleges and universities.

We also increased funding for 3rd grade reading programs to ensure our children and grandchildren have a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Comprehensive road funding fix

After years of discussion and debate, a comprehensive road funding solution was passed that invests more than $1 billion into repairing our roads and bridges. We also directed half a billion dollars from the FY ’15 budget to road construction and repair.

Protecting our quality of life

We restored justice for many victims of violent crimes by fully funding efforts to eliminate the backlog on 10,000 rape kits in the Detroit area and prosecute the offenders.

In addition, we protected faith-based adoption agencies by ensuring that the convictions of our hearts in matters of faith are not overridden by the state. All children deserve stable, loving homes but not all agencies need to be told how to accomplish this goal.

Preserving our outdoor heritage

Michigan’s water resources define our very way of life and are a cornerstone of our economy. We urged the federal government to actively confront the menace Asian carp poses to the native species of the Great Lakes and protect our region’s cherished natural resources and vital tourism industry.

Michigan is such a great place to live, work and raise a family! These efforts will go a long way in helping to improve our environment for job growth, provide more educational opportunities and protect the rights of our citizens.

Rep. Peter Pettalia and I have introduced Senate Bill 644 to allow for a partnership of Alpena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) and Mid-Michigan Health.

The most important goal of this bill is to help ensure that the people of Northern Michigan will continue to have access to quality health care. By joining forces, ARMC and Mid-Michigan Health will be able to keep care local, improve the long-term future of the hospital and offer an opportunity for more comprehensive services that are not currently available in the area. Senate Bill 644 would allow the Alpena County Board of Commissioners (ARMC) to convert the community-owned hospital into a nonprofit corporation subject to the state’s nonprofit law. This would enable the ARMC to pursue an agreement with Mid-Michigan Health. Rep. Pettalia has introduced similar legislation, House Bill 5138, in the House of Representatives.

“This is about helping the ARMC enter a partnership with an organization that understands the needs of rural communities and is focused on providing the best care possible to its patients,” Stamas said.

SB 644 has been referred to the Senate Health Policy Committee for consideration.

Property tax notice flexibility bill made law

Midland County Treasurer Cathy Lunsford, Libby Varner and Ann Townsend joined me on Wednesday for Gov. Rick Snyder’s formal bill signing of Senate Bill 349, which revises the timeframe in which county treasurers may send delinquent property tax notices. Senate Bill 349, now Public Act 202 of 2015, allows the county treasurer to send the notices “on or within 60 days before” the June 1 and Sept. 1 notification dates. Prior to this law, even if county treasurers had completed their work prior to June 1, they needed to wait until the notification date to send notices to property owners about unpaid property taxes.

Bill to honor Corpsman Aaron D. Ullom passed Senate

The Michigan Senate unanimously approved my legislation to permanently honor U.S. Navy Corpsman Aaron Ullom, who was killed in Afghanistan in July 2011 while saving the life of a marine. America is strong today because of the courage and dedication of patriots like Corpsman Aaron Ullom, who too often make the ultimate sacrifice. Corpsman Ullom is an American hero who gave his life saving a fellow soldier. The people of Midland and the entire state are proud to call Aaron one of our own, and this memorial bridge will stand as a permanent reminder of the life of a native son who never returned home and our appreciation for his service and sacrifice.

Senate Bill 513 would designate the bridge on US-10 over Eastman Avenue in Midland as the “Corpsman Aaron D. Ullom Memorial Bridge.”

Ullom’s family expressed their support during a Senate Transportation Committee meeting in October. Senate Bill 513 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

OUR DISTRICT

Do you have a photo that you would like to see posted on my webpage? I am proud of the fact that I represent Northeastern Lower Michigan, and all its splendor! Send a picture to me of your favorite spot in the district and I will post it on my webpage. Check out the other photos.

Pure Michigan: Winter

Happy New Year! Pure Michigan shares a few of Michigan's places to visit. #2 on the list is Alpena, Michigan's very own Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. There are so many great places to visit thru-out Northeastern Michigan!

Otsego County 911/Emergency Management Visit

I had the privilege of touring the brand new Otsego County 911/Emergency Management facility with State Representative Triston Cole. Pictured with us County Commissioners John Burt and Ken Borton, Mary Sanders, EMS Chief Jon Deming and Paramedics Mike Martin and Gavin Babieraki.

Be Winter Wise

Winter is finally here, and everyday temperatures are now at freezing level. The Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE) encourages utility customers to Be WinterWise and cut winter heating bills.

THE 36TH DISTRICT

The 36th Senate District is made up of 10 counties, which includes: Presque Isle, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Oscoda, Alcona, Iosco, Arenac, Gladwin and Midland counties.

Contact Me

Serving the constituents of the 36th Senate district is very important to me and I encourage you to contact me with any state issues. You may contact me by calling toll-free 1-855-347-8036 or emailing senjstamas@senate.michigan.gov. Also, please check out my Facebook page. I look forward to serving you, and I encourage you to contact me if I can assist you in any way or if you have an idea to help move our state forward.

Thank you for subscribing to my electronic newsletter! I am honored to represent you in the 36th Senate District of Michigan. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Please feel free to forward this on to others who may be interested in receiving the 36th District E-news. You may sign up for it also at my website or via Facebook.